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Candy's Thoughtful Thursdays : A Creativity Rant

Oil painting of a mountainous landscape at night with spectacular lights and colors in the night sky under a blanket of stars
Hello Art Fans and Collectors!
At the risk of sounding callous, when someone says, “So-and-so (insert he/she/anybody’s name)is such a creative person,” I have a knee-jerk reaction.

I want to say (rather loudly),
“Now, that is redundant … “
We - and by that I mean,all of us - are, by nature, creative!

Since we are sentient beings, we can design and create tools to assist us to solve problems and to amuse ourselves, whether those problems are large or small, or if we want, to create something just for fun.

I suppose the opposite is also true, IF we find ourselves NOT inspired to create anything --- art, wearable or collectible items, policies, systems, anything to solve our problems, or bring some idea forward, we won’t.

Instead, we often adopt and fall into one of several other behaviors: depression, anxiety, agoraphobia, or any number of self-absorbed problems.

And here’s a fact: creativity costs something. The making (of whatever creative endeavor) takes away from other possible uses of our time.

Creativity requires we sacrifice a chunk of our own life to fashion something that delights ourselves and hopefully, someone else. Sort of like being a parent. It’s a sacrifice.

Many people create things for their own amusement and amazement. I know I do. If I’m asked to do a specific commissioned work, for instance, find a way to make it personally interesting. Otherwise, why bother?

Maybe that’s a good way to start out… to experiment and just learn what you might be capable of…. But there comes a time when creating some end product is no longer just self-satisfaction.

Sometimes it’s even a chore.

But that’s the difference between someone who is dedicated to the task and someone who quits when the next shiny object or other need presents itself.

I think you can extrapolate even further that this sacrifice of our own time to create something for someone else, for society, etc. is a measure of our own growth and maturity.

When confronted with sorting through the needs of the day and the desire to keep creating, it can be frustrating. I find solace in the wisdom of scripture. Here’s a favorite:

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, with prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil 4: 6-7

Some may say this sounds simplistic.

However, as a nurse, who has heard stories from people who survived near-death experiences, they all report a common message: life is short, love is everything.

I take that to mean, don’t take life for granted, delight in the life you’ve been given, love one another, and explore creativity as much as possible.

If you think you are NOT creative, why not?
Creativelife
Possibilitythinking
DelightintheLord
Image shows the newest painting in the series, "Spiritual Awakenings" 
24x40” oil on canvas: 
“The heavens cry out the glory of God."

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Thankful Thursday Thoughts 🤔


Some time ago, American poet, Jack Gilbert, said, “…we must risk delight… “
That phrase stuck with me. 🎯

As a fellow creative person, he highlighted the main obstacle—- our own struggle with acceptance.

As a self-described eternal optimist, his words have given me something to chew on.

Yes, it is a RISK to put yourself/ your work out into the world.
😬

Ask anyone who has taken the time to:
focus and write a book, 📚
a poem,📜
a song, 🎶
a play, 🎭
perform anything in public,🕺🎤
put paint to canvas 🎨
or mold clay into a shape, 🏺
etc., the main battle is within.

It’s the nagging little voice that tells you to quit. Or not start.🙁

Conquering that, stepping out, that is the risk.

Gilbert recognized that continual battle. For him, it was such an all-consuming fight, he hid from the limelight, once he achieved the success he thought he was going for!

That is one way to deal with the risk of being a creative in any realm…

But there’s another way to face-off and conquer the loneliness, the rejection, the fear of failure, the criticism.

That is, tell that nagging little voice to go lie down while you concentrate and use the gifts God gave you to bring some positivity into the world. 😀

That’s not a false doctrine; it’s the only way to conquer the nagging inner-self, which will (of course), reappear frequently, especially anytime you decide to invest some precious hours of your life to create something most people just won’t make the time or energy to do.

This ‘positive psychology’ idea has taken a figurative beating in the last few years, and understandably so, if taken out of context.
For instance, it would be inappropriate to face any tragedy, e.g., a global pandemic, with a smile on your face.

Nevertheless, many of us agree with Gilbert, who warned, “We must have the stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthless furnace of this world.”
Ah, yes...There will always be trolls.
(Or, as a speaker friend would say, “People be peoplin’!”)

It takes guts to face the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune and find the silver lining in any situation; to choose to be grateful for the little things.

That’s what I want to do with this #ThankfulThursdayThoughts.

 I’ll share one a week for a while (I don’t like to be too predictable, after all) and relish reading your commments.

I’d like to thank author, Elizabeth Gilbert, for sharing about Jack Gilbert in her book. BigMagic.

My Thankful Thursday Thought to pass along this week?

If you see someone without a smile, give them yours!
(It’s free, and neuroscience research supports the fact: It’s good for you!)

What makes you smile?

Smile
Passion
ThankfulThursdayThoughts

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